Tag: fantasy-football-week-13

Are you in need of a respite after spending the holiday with your family? Perhaps the best cure for the holiday blues is to plop down in front of the TV for six hours while eating leftovers – and what can make that even better? When you’re watching football on that TV and have money on the game!

Recommended DFS lineups

*Note: FanDuel and Fanball include the Sunday night game on their Main Slate. DraftKings doesn’t include them, so the pricing is listed as N/A.

DK Lineup: QB Justin Herbert ($5.6k), RB Tony Pollard ($6.3k), RB Bucky Irving ($5.8k), WR A.J. Brown ($8.3k), WR Nico Collins ($7.9k), WR Quentin Johnston ($5.0k), TE Cade Otton ($4.5k), FLEX Mark Andrews ($3.9k), DST New York Jets ($2.5k)

FD Lineup: QB Justin Herbert ($7.9k), RB Christian McCaffrey ($8.8k), RB Bucky Irving ($7.2k), WR A.J. Brown ($8.8k), WR Ladd McConkey ($6.3k), WR David Moore ($5.1k), TE Cade Otton ($6.2K), FLEX Gus Edwards ($5.9k), DST New York Jets ($3.7k)

FB Lineup: QB Baker Mayfield ($6.3k), RB Bucky Irving ($5.9k), RB Gus Edwards ($3.7k), WR A.J. Brown ($7.6k), WR Mike Evans ($7.1k), WR/TE Ladd McConkey ($5.6k), TE Cade Otton ($4.7k), FLEX Christian McCaffrey ($7.8k), SUPERFLEX Justin Herbert ($5.7k)

*Note: Player salaries are color-coded based on expected output. Red = Less than 2.5x value, Black = 2.5x value, Green = Greater than 3x value.

Quarterback

Weekly strategy – Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, and Jalen Hurts are the top options. Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford, and Justin Herbert (my favorite) are the top pivots. Will Levis and Bryce Young are the punt options.

Fantasy four-pack

Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ BAL ($7,700 DK, $9,200 FD) Baltimore has allowed 400 more passing yards than the next closest team. They also have allowed the third-most passing TDs. Hurts has only scored two total TDs in the last two games. This should keep his ownership reduced. Stack him with A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert.

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers @ CAR ($6,600 DK, $8,500 FD) Mayfield has scored the third-most total TDs among all QBs and Carolina has allowed the fourth-most total TDs to the position. He won’t have to throw in this game, but he will, especially if Carolina can keep it close. Four total TDs are on the table.

C.J. Stroud, Texans @ JAX ($6,400 DK, $8,000 FD) One team to have allowed more total QB touchdowns than Carolina is Jacksonville. They also have allowed the second-most passing yards and the third-most QB rushing yards. In three career games versus Jacksonville, Stroud is averaging 310-2, with an additional 26 rushing yards per game and one rushing score.

Josh Allen, Bills vs. SF (N/A DK, $9,000 FD) Over the last two weeks, Allen has only three total TDs. Fortunately, he has kept his value up by posting over 100 rushing yards during that span. San Francisco has been very solid against the pass this season, but they have allowed the seventh-most QB rushing scores.

Sleepers

Justin Herbert, Chargers @ ATL ($5,600 DK, $7,900 FD) The $7,900 price tag on FD hardly qualifies as a discount, but his DK price rocks. Atlanta has allowed multiple passing TDs in every game since Week 4. Meanwhile, Herbert has multiple TDs in four of his last five games. 

Will Levis, Titans @ WAS ($5,000 DK, $6,700 FD) Levis is playing YOLO ball right now, throwing for eight completions of greater than 20 yards over his last two games. Meanwhile, Washington has allowed eight passing TDs of greater than 20 yards, including three in their last four games.

Running back

Weekly strategy – Christian McCaffrey and Joe Mixon are both pricy but safe RB1 options. To save money, pivot to Kyren Williams. I’m concerned about chasing points with Saquon Barkley and will fade him. At RB2, use Tony Pollard, assuming Tyjae Spears (concussion), remains out. Otherwise, consider Chuba Hubbard, Bucky Irving, and Rhamondre Stevenson. There are three injury-replacement punt options: Jeremy McNichols, Braelon Allen, and Gus Edwards.

Fantasy four-pack

Joe Mixon, Texans @ JAX ($8,000 DK, $9,500 FD) Over their last three games, Jacksonville has allowed 602 rushing yards and five rushing TDs. Mixon laid a goose egg last week. This, paired with his high price, should keep his ownership down. Before that dud, Mixon had scored 10 TDs over his prior six games. He also topped 100 total yards in five of the six games. 

Christian McCaffrey, 49ers @ BUF (N/A DK, $8,800 FD) McCaffrey continues to underperform since his return from injury. Brandon Allen‘s presence is the reason for last week’s performance. Brock Purdy (shoulder) is has a chance to return this weekend, so that would help CMC return to his pre-injury status as the best RB in football, but missed most of the year comes with rust to remove. It will help that Buffalo ranks in the bottom two in RB receptions, receiving yards, and receiving scores allowed.

Derrick Henry, Ravens vs. PHI ($7,800 DK, $9,000 FD) Only one team (the Chargers) has allowed fewer total TDs to opposing RBs than Philly. That said, they have allowed a rushing TD in back-to-back games. Plus, this is Derrick Henry. Last week was the first time he had not scored at least one TD all season. His opponent, not surprisingly, was the Chargers. Even in that shutout, he reached 140 yards.

Kyren Williams, Rams @ NO ($7,200 DK, $8,400 FD) Williams’ production has waned since the return of Los Angeles’ top WRs. That said, he scored last week against a tough Philadelphia defense. This gave him at least one TD in eight of 11 games. Meanwhile, since Week 5, New Orleans has allowed 28 PPR points per game to opposing RBs.

Sleepers

Tony Pollard, Titans @ WAS ($6,300 DK, $7,000 FD) This tout comes down to whether or not Tyjae Spears (concussion) plays. Over their last four games, Washington has allowed 156 combo yards per game to opposing RBs. If Spears is out, this will all go to Pollard, making him a slate-breaker. Even if Spears plays, Pollard should score and approach 100 total yards.

Bucky Irving, Buccaneers @ CAR ($5,800 DK, $7,200 FD) Over their last two games, Irving leads all Buccaneers backs in every category. He also has scored twice. Carolina is the worst team in the league against opposing RBs, allowing an average of 29.5 PPR points to the position this season. 

Wide receiver

Weekly strategy – A.J. Brown and Nico Collins are the top two WRs. I’d love to roster both of them, but to do so, you must go cheap at RB1. The Rams’ duo are the top pivots. At WR2, choose from Mike Evans, Marvin Harrison Jr., Ladd McConkey, and Drake London. I would stack one of those four with my QB. To save money, consider Calvin Ridley, Darnell Mooney, or Michael Pittman Jr. I wouldn’t stack them, though. Xavier Legette, “Iron Hands” Quentin Johnston, Rashod Bateman, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are the best choices for WR3. You also can use Demarcus Robinson there if you don’t use Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp. Other punt options include Noah Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and David Moore. 

Fantasy four-pack

A.J. Brown, Eagles @ BAL ($8,300, $8,800 FD) Baltimore has allowed the most receiving yards to the position this season. In addition , the Ravens have allowed the second-most WR touchdowns and receptions. They have particularly struggled with WR1s, allowing 11 TDs to that spot over their last eight games.

Nico Collins, Texans @ JAX ($7,900, $9,100 FD) Jacksonville has allowed 10 passing TDs of greater than 20 yards this season. Collins should get in on the fun this week as he has posted 19-255-2 on 24 targets against this defense in their last two meetings.

Puka Nacua, Rams @ NO ($7,600 DK, $8,700 FD) You can use Nacua or Cooper Kupp. Only four teams have allowed more WR receiving yards this season. Ignoring the game where he was ejected, Nacua has averaged 8-111 since returning from the IR.

Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ CAR ($6,700 DK, $8,300 FD) In his first game back, Evans led the Buccaneers in receiving yards. With his sea legs back, expect Evans to go off here. Against Carolina, he has scored and/or topped 90 yards in 11 of 19 career meetings.

Sleepers

Xavier Legette, Panthers vs. TB ($5,100 DK, $5,800 FD) The Panthers have spread the ball around all year, but Legette leads them in all the pertinent receiving categories. The Buccaneers offense will force Carolina to throw the ball to keep up. I would consider David Moore here, too, if Jalen Coker (quad) remains out.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Titans @ WAS ($4,300 DK, $5,900 FD) Westbrook-Ikhine has surpassed three receptions in exactly one game this season. Still, he has scored in six of seven games. A 35% conversion rate is unsustainable, but enjoy the fun while you can.

Tight end

Weekly strategy – Cade Otton is my favorite play this week. He should have minimal ownership after last week’s dud. In a soft matchup, play Trey McBride, who is overdue for a TD. T.J. Hockenson, Dallas Goedert, and Mark Andrews are the pivots. You shouldn’t need to punt here, but if you do, use Pat Freiermuth.

Fantasy four-pack

Trey McBride, Cardinals @ MIN ($5,800 DK, $6,900 FD) Since Week 5, McBride has averaged 6.8-80. Now, we just need him to score TDs, too. Minnesota has allowed only two TE scores all season, so we may have to wait another week, but the yards will be there.

Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ CAR ($4,500 DK, $6,200 FD) Only two teams have allowed more yards to the TE position, and no team has allowed more touchdowns. Otton posted a dud last week with the return of Mike Evans, but that was against the third-best TE defense in terms of yards allowed. His ownership will be down as he goes off this week. 

T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. ARI ($4,400 DK, $6,500 FD) With teams triple-teaming Justin Jefferson, Hockenson posted an epic game last week. This gave him two solid games out of four since his return from injury. Arizona is mid against the position, but if they pick their poison in Jefferson, Hock will feast again.

George Kittle, 49ers @ BUF (N/A DK, $7,800 FD) Buffalo is very good against the position, but they allowed a pair of scores by Noah Gray last week. Kittle is elite enough to get it done, regardless. He has now scored in seven of the nine games that he has played. Just consider this more of a floor game, which is still probably 6-50-1.

Sleepers

Mark Andrews, Ravens vs. PHI ($3,900 DK, $5,600 FD) Andrews a sleeper? That DK price seems to say so. Philly was elite against the position to start the season, but three of the last five TE1s to face them have reached double-digit PPR points.

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ CIN ($3,500 DK, $5,100 FD) Cincy ranks fifth-worst in both yards allowed and receptions to the TE position. They also have allowed the second-most TE touchdowns. Freiermuth is no sure thing, but the matchup (and DK price) screams to give him a chance.